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1962 Jaguar XKE Series I Coupe Heads to Auction After Decades Off the Road
A flat-floor 1962 Jaguar XKE Series I coupe, off the road in California from 1970 to 2003 and refurbished after 2012, is offered on dealer consignment with a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate and service records.
By Charlotte Redford · 4 min read
A 1962 Jaguar XKE Series I flat-floor coupe that spent more than three decades off the road in California is being offered for sale on dealer consignment. The car, built on 29 December 1961 and sold new through Jaguar Cars of New York, is presented with a Jaguar Heritage Trust Production Record Trace certificate, service records and New York registration.
According to the consignor, the XKE reportedly sat unused in California from 1970 until 2003. The current owner acquired it in 2012, after which a refurbishment was completed by Classic Showcase of Oceanside, California. The car was repainted in its factory shade of Opalescent Bronze in 2012 and is trimmed in red leather, although the Heritage Trust certificate records that it originally left the factory with Biscuit upholstery.
The Series I is distinguished by its flat-floor construction, which provides a continuous floorboard under each seat. Exterior equipment includes enclosed headlights, a louvered clamshell hood, wraparound chrome bumpers, bright trim, a driver-side mirror, triple windshield wipers, a side-hinged rear hatch and dual exhaust outlets. In 2020 the rear hatch latch was adjusted and the rear exhaust hanger was replaced.
Power comes from a 3.8-litre inline-six fitted with triple SU carburettors, factory rated at 265 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The cylinder head stamp reads R3422-9, matching the engine number recorded on the chassis plate and the Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a Moss four-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.
Service in 2020 included an oil change and replacement of the radiator cap, battery, and carburettor needle and seats. A January 2026 service reportedly involved flushing the fuel system, cleaning the fuel screen, and cleaning and synchronising the carburettors, as well as cleaning and gapping the spark plugs. The transmission gear oil was changed in 2020 and the clutch fluid was flushed.
The car rides on 15-inch wire-spoke wheels secured by two-eared knock-offs and mounted with 185-section Universal Sport tyres. Braking is provided by four-wheel discs with inboard-mounted rear rotors. Maintenance in 2020 also included flushing the brake fluid and greasing the steering and suspension fittings.
Inside, the cabin features bucket seats re-trimmed in red leather, colour-coordinated door panels and carpets, textured aluminium dash trim, an AM/FM radio and a heater. A wood-rimmed steering wheel frames a Smiths 160-mph speedometer and a 6,000-rpm tachometer, while auxiliary gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level and amperage sit in the centre of the dashboard. The five-digit odometer shows 1,100 miles, though total mileage is unknown.
The sale includes a jack and a knock-off hammer. The car does not have a title, as it is registered in a state that does not issue titles for a vehicle of its age, and it is being sold on its New York registration.
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